Easter was incredibly beautiful this year. We had sunny skies, blooming azaleas, and warm weather that had everyone breaking out their summer wardrobes early.

We were fortunate enough to snag a coveted reservation at The Hound in downtown Auburn, Alabama. We have tried going to brunch here several times to only decide to not make the wait, which can sometimes reach an hour. The Hound is a very popular restaurant and bar in the heart of downtown Auburn, just a block away from Auburn University’s campus.

Outside the front entrance of The Hound there are a number of picnic tables for an outdoor seating area. I did not see anyone eating outside on this particular day. Even though it was only April 1st, the weather was already considerably warm. Eating outside could have worked, but why not enjoy the air conditioning when available?

It did not take long for us to be seated since we had a reservation. There was still a little wait, but we easily understood this because Easter is one of the busiest times for brunch services for most restaurants. We were seated in the main dining room, just beyond the bar area. The dining room is decorated in an urban rustic style. Deer antler chandeliers, minnow bucket lights, solid wood tables, and a mixture of new and old elements. The atmosphere is very relaxed and comfortable.

We were promptly served once seated. We had already decided what we wanted to eat while we were waiting to be seated, so we were anxious to order our food and get to eating!

For starters, we shared as a table the Hound’s spicy po’ cheese and Mama Sue’s pepper jelly and crackers. The Hound’s spicy po’ cheese is a house-made pimento cheese. Pimento cheese as a starter is what I consider a staple at southern gatherings; that and a pickle platter. You cannot go wrong with either of these items to calm those hungry stomachs. I loved the sharp cheese used in their recipe, and I also loved that it wasn’t extra creamy and full of cream cheese or mayo. Mama Sue’s pepper jelly was a real hit with my father. He probably could have eat the entire basket of crackers and jelly by himself.

For entrees, we all ordered something different. I ordered the Redneck Benedict, my father ordered the BLT, my mother ordered the Hound Burger, and my hubby ordered the Meatloaf Burger. I love Eggs Benedict. You can about guarantee that if it is on the brunch or breakfast menu and I am ordering, that I will most likely order the Benedict. The Hound’s Benedict, the redneck Benedict, is very unique and delicious. Instead of the classic English muffin, ham, and hollandaise sauce, the “redneck” version consists of a bed of biscuits, bacon, scrambled eggs, all covered in their house sausage gravy. It was very savory, and more than I could eat in one sitting. I took half of my meal home to reheat for the following day’s breakfast, which was equally yummy.

We all left full and happy! We hope to return soon for lunch, dinner or drinks. The food, service, and atmosphere were all stellar as usual at this downtown hot spot!

The only other item that I was able to get a taste of was my dad’s BLT. I know a BLT sounds simple, but without fresh, quality ingredients, a simple dish can become a disaster. The fresh arugula, bacon, and what I believe was house-made sourdough bread was bright, fresh, and delicious!